Merrimack Repertory Theatre Adds New Members to Patriot Program

As the inaugural season of Merrimack Repertory Theatre's Patriot Program approaches its end, artistic director Sean Daniels has announced the addition of 14 new theatre artists to the company's network of collaborators. The new class of Patriots includes a mix of local and national artists who can now count MRT as one of their theatrical homes.

The Patriot Program is designed to enhance the creation of theatre by both the individuals and the organization. MRT provides open invitations and access to resources for individuals at any stage in the creative development process. At the same time, MRT benefits by having a large network of theatre professionals with whom to collaborate on its own projects. During the current 2015-16 Season, MRT hosted 26 visiting Patriots, some of whom used the time for writing or research, while others participated in six workshops or development projects.

Artistic director Sean Daniels selects the Patriots and remarked, "Every year we want to add members to our artistic family - nationally recognized artists who went above and beyond for us this season, or will be lead artists for us next season. Also, now having been here for a year, I'm grateful to know the local theatre community better and add more Boston-based talent to the mix. It's all a part of our plan to be a local theatre the nation pays attention to."

In addition to the current group of Patriots, MRT has added the following individuals. The complete list can be found at mrt.org/patriots.

MRT Patriots - Class of 2016

Charissa Bertels - Singer and actor currently on the national tour of "If/Then", conceiver and performer of MRT's 2016-17 "My 80-Year-Old Boyfriend"

Eleanor Burgess - Boston-native, currently New York-based playwright whose production of "Chill" will be featured in MRT's 2016-17 Season. Winner of the Alliance/ Kenededa National Graduate Playwriting Award.

Joel Colodner - Boston-based actor who appeared in "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play"

Steve Drukman - Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright whose world premiere production of "Going to See the Kid" will be MRT's holiday production next season

Jessica Ford - Costume Designer whose work was recently seen at New York's Atlantic Theatre Company and at MRT in "Home of the Brave." She is also on the faculty at UMass Amherst.

Michael John Garces - Director and playwright, artistic director of Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles

Cheryl McMahon - Boston-based actor appearing in MRT's "Home of the Brave"

Allison Moore - Playwright, currently a Core Member of the The Playwrights' Center. Television writer for "Powers", "Da Vinci's Demons", "Beauty and the Beast".

Nael Nacer - Boston-based actor who appeared in MRT's "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play"

Stowe Nelson - Sound designer whose work was heard at MRT during "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Drama Desk Award-nominee. Company member of the award winning theatre company the Mad Ones and Wingspan Theatrical Design.

Celeste Oliva - Boston-based actress who appeared in MRT's "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play"

Leon Rothenberg - Tony-Award winning sound designer ("The Nance") whose credits also include Cirque du Soleil and MRT's "The Lion" and "The White Chip"

Justin Townsend - Lighting and set designer whose work can currently be seen on Broadway in "American Psycho" and "The Humans", and was seen by MRT audiences in "The White Chip"

Reggie D. White - Actor who appeared the Lowell and New York runs of MRT's "I and You"